Magnificat

REVISING

In a twisted alternate history of the Philippines, the 1970s brought more than martial law-it marked the rise of a dictator who abhorred art, music, religion, and all forms of creative expression. No one knew how he won the presidency, but soon the country plunged into darkness. Churches were shut down, clergy and faithful silenced-some executed, others imprisoned. And when re-election came, he clinched it again-not with votes, but with blood.

Generations passed under his rule. By 2015, the Philippines had become a nation void of identity. In this bleak world lives Xian Mercado, a 16-year-old delinquent from the ruins of Intramuros. Prone to school fights and apathy, he keeps his hatred for the regime buried deep to survive. But in secret, he visits an abandoned Catholic parish-a silent sanctuary from the oppressive world outside. There, he finds a hidden statue of the Virgin Mary and a worn Bible, his only refuge in a lifeless city.

One day, while cleaning the attic of his crumbling home, Xian discovers a violin and an old instructional book-remnants of his grandfather's forgotten past. With no one to teach him, he begins to teach himself, hiding away in the parish to practice. Through fumbling fingers and silent nights, he composes a piece from his soul-an ode to hope, beauty, and faith-he names it "Magnificat."

What begins as a solitary act of defiance soon becomes a quiet revolution. Joined by Katrina Gallardo, a girl brave enough to sing, Stephen Hernandez, a reclusive pianist, and Sebastian Martinez, a bold rogue graffiti artist, Xian helps spark a movement of underground resistance-one born not from violence, but from beauty, prayer, and courage.

Magnificat is a sweeping tale of faith, art, and sacrifice-a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, a single song can light the way to freedom.

Started: June 09, 2024
Finished: June 16, 2025